Protaetia brevitarsis larvae have been widely used for traditional medicine and food in East Asia. This research comprised two experiments. The first experiment compared the growth in densities (10, 20, 30 larvae), substrates (commercial, self-made), and containers (Tyvek, zipper bags). In the second experiment, different numbers of air holes (16, 32, 48 holes) in zipper bags experiment is ongoing. The results indicated that the larvae development rate was 72.6%, 69.98%, and 55.33% in 10, 20, and 30 larvae densities, respectively. However, there was no significant difference in larvae survival rate and weight. In the different feed material experiments, the average larvae weight of commercial feed was 1.09g and for self-made, it was 2.85g. The survival rate was 86% and 96% in commercial and self-made feed, respectively. Lastly, while 96% of larvae survived in Tyvek bags, none of the larvae survived in the zipper bags.

2003년 국내에 침입한 외래종 등검은말벌(Vespa velutina nigrithorax)은 현재 남한 전체에 확산된 상태이며 이들로 인한 사회 경제적 피해는 지속적으로 증가하고 있다. 따라서 이들을 방제하기 위한 다양한 방법이 시도되 고 있으나 그 효과는 대부분 미미한 상황이다. 그러나 최근 생물학적 방제에 대한 관심이 집중되는 상황에서 외래종 등검은말벌에 대한 새로운 포식자 2종이 발견되어 이를 보고하고자 한다. 2023년 8월 11일 전북 무주군 적상면 일대에서 오소리 배설물 조사 중 배설물 속에 다량의 말벌 사체가 발견되었고 분석 결과 10여개체의 등검 은말벌로 나타났다. 이는 일반적으로 땅벌류를 주로 포식하는 오소리가 대형 말벌류를 포식하는 첫 기록이다. 또한 2023년 12월 10일 안동 일대에서 등검은말벌 벌집 조사를 하던 중 벌집에 10여 마리의 직박구리가 벌집 외피를 깨고 내부에 있는 애벌레와 성충들을 포식하는 장면이 관찰되면서 벌매에 이어 새로운 조류 포식자를 기록한다.

외래종 등검은말벌은 양봉농가에 막대한 경제적 피해를 입히는 대표적인 양봉 해충으로 알려져 있다. 본 연구 에서는 경북 의성 및 안동 일대에서 양봉장 주변 2km 지점 내에 발생하는 등검은말벌의 벌집 밀도에 대해 조사하 였다. 조사기간은 2023년 12월 1-20일까지 조사되었으며 육안, 망원경 및 드론을 통해 가능한 한 모든 지점을 조사하였다. 이번 조사에서 발견된 총 등검은말벌 벌집 수는 133개로 조사되었다. 그 중 의성에 위치한 5곳의 양봉장에서는 총 67개로 평균 13.4개, 안동에 위치한 5곳의 양봉장에서는 총 66개로 평균 13.2개로 나타나 두 지역이 거의 유사한 경향을 나타내었다. 10개의 양봉장 중 안동 안기동 일대 양봉장에서 최대 26개의 등검은말벌 벌집이 발견되었으며 의성 단촌 일대 양봉장에서는 4개만이 발견되어 큰 격차를 보였다. 양봉장에 피해는 주는 등검은말벌의 출현 비율은 주변 벌집 밀도에 영향을 직접적으로 받고 있기 때문에 정확한 밀도 및 거리 등을 토대로 적절한 방제 전략이 필요할 것으로 보인다.

노지 나방류 해충인 담배거세미나방 방제를 위한 유충기생성 천적 2종인 긴등기생파리와 예쁜가는배고치벌 의 방사조건을 확립하고자 콩 재배포장에서 방사거리 및 방사밀도별 기생율을 조사하였다. 긴등기생파리는 방사 후 24시간 이내 방사지점으로부터 10m까지 이동하여 나방류 유충을 기생하였으며, 예쁜가는배고치벌도 방사지점으로부터 15m에서도 기주유충에 산란하여 고치가 형성된 것이 확인되었다. 긴등기생파리는 면적당 방사밀도가 높아질수록 기생율이 증가했으며, ㎡당 0.15마리(천적:해충=1:5) 방사했을 때 평균기생율 63.1%로 나타났다. 예쁜가는배고치벌은 긴등기생파리와 같은 방사밀도에서 평균기생율 47.8%로 확인되었으나, 방사 밀도에 따른 기생율 차이는 없었다.

M. pruinosa has been found on 98 families and 345 species of plants, indicating a wide host range. Since its first report in a persimmon orchard in Gimhae in 2009, it had spread to 126 municipalities over 12,429 ha. Because of powerful dispersal ability, it’s difficult to control with insecticides. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce the population density through the release of M. pruinosa’s natural enemy, N. typhlocybae. N. typhlocybae females prey on or externally parasitize the nymphs of M. pruinosa. This natural enemy was introduced from Italy in 2017 through an international cooperative project between National Institute of Agricultural Sciences and University of Padova for controlling the sporadic pest, Metcalfa pruinosa. This study reported the results of mass rearing N. typhlocybae indoors and releasing them outdoors from 2020 to 2023 in 21 regions nationwide, showing an average parasitism rate of 27.3% and an average production of 7.9 cocoons per host, suggesting the possibility of their establishment in Korea.

The genus Vespa consists of 22 species worldwide, and their phylogenetic relationships are well established through adult morphology and molecular analyses. However, taxonomic studies of larvae are lacking. In this study, we provided descriptions and taxonomic keys for eight species of Korean Vespa larvae.

An eco-friendly material was synthesized through interfacial polymerization of aniline on particles of g-C3N4 with arginine, resulting in Arg-PANI@g-C3N4 composite. The as-synthesized composite was characterized by the Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller (BET) surface area, X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The adsorption capability of as-synthesized composite towards Orange G (OG) dye has been evaluated under several experimental conditions, such as the adsorbent dosage, initial dye concentration, contact time under agitation, pH of dye solution and temperature. Thermodynamics parameters such as free energy (ΔG°), entropy (ΔS°), and enthalpy (ΔH°) were also calculated and suggested that the adsorption process is spontaneous and endothermic in nature. The kinetics data revealed that the adsorption of OG dye onto Arg-PANI@g-C3N4 follows the pseudo-second order kinetics model. The maximum adsorption capacity was found to be 80.54 mg·g−1. Furthermore, the Arg-PANI@g-C3N4 surface exhibited a Langmuir-like adsorption isotherm in contrast to a Freundlich isotherm due to homogeneous active site distribution. Regeneration investigation showed the excellent reusability of Arg-PANI@g-C3N4 composite during the cleaning up of solution containing OG dye molecules.

PURPOSES : A model for minimizing cutting loss and determining the optimum layout of blocks in pavements was developed in this study. METHODS : Based on literature review, a model which included constraints such as the amount, volume, overlap, and pattern, was developed to minimize the cutting loss in an irregular pavement shape. The Stach bond, stretcher bond, and herringbone patterns were used in this model. The harmony search and particle swarm algorithms were then used to solve this model. RESULTS : Based on the results of the model and algorithms, the harmony search algorithm yielded better results because of its fast computation time. Moreover, compared to the sample pavement area, it reduced the cutting loss by 20.91%. CONCLUSIONS : The model and algorithms successfully optimized the layout of the pavement and they have potential applications in industries, such as tiling, panels, and textiles.

The soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) plays a crucial role in insect immunity and development by metabolizing oxylipins such as EpOMEs and EETs. This study investigates sEH's involvement in insect antiviral response against Autographacalifornicanuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV) infection. Viral infection assays were performed on Plutellaxylostellaand Marucavitrata, utilizing occlusion bodies (OB, via feeding) and budded virus (BV, through injection). Insect mortality was monitored every 12 h for up to 7 days. Our findings demonstrated a dose-dependent impact of both virus forms (OB and BV) on insects. Additionally, the sEH inhibitor, AUDA (12-(3-adamantan-1-yl-ureido) dodecanoic acid), was employed alongside the virus. The results indicated that combining AUDA with the virus increased insect mortality. Furthermore, fluorescence assays revealed the gradual movement of the virus from the gut to hemolymph and fat body. AUDA was observed to expedite virus infection. Moreover, sEH expression rapidly increased along with the viral infection in Spodoptera exigua. RNA interference of sEH expression enhanced the viral virulence against S.exigua. These suggest that EpOMEs play crucial roles in immune resolution against viral infection in insects.

Previous research on green product innovation (GPI) has primarily focused on the performance of new product development, neglecting the critical, early fuzzy front-end (FFE) phase. Drawing upon the firm's resource-based view (RBV) and dynamic capabilities perspective, this study explores how co-production affects FFE outcomes (creative idea and product definition proficiency) of GPI and whether joint learning ambidexterity is a mediating mechanism in international buyer-supplier relationships. Additionally, we provide a contingency perspective by considering the moderating role of the innovation ecosystem on the relationship between co-production and joint learning ambidexterity. Finally, this study contributes to a theoretical understanding, analyzing co-production as a predictor, joint learning ambidexterity as a mediator, and innovation ecosystem as a moderator.

Digital entrepreneurship refers to the pursuit of business opportunities based on the utilisation of digital media and other information and communication technologies. The use of digital technologies provides an avenue of unleashing female entrepreneurs from the hierarchical and practice of obedience in a high cultural context. In this sense, the potential of digital entrepreneurship in promoting female entrepreneurship can be examined in terms of entrepreneurship as emancipation. Our research contributes to the women entrepreneurship literature on the use of digital technologies in the context of a very hostile environment such as in the case of Yemeni civil war. A semi-structured interview format will be used to gather information on a common set of questions focusing on how digital technology enabled the entrepreneurial activities. The researchers will adopt a qualitative interpretive methodology. This approach focuses on the participants’ own reflections on their experiences.

The emission of off-gas streams from used fuel recycling is a concern in nuclear energy usage as they contain radioactive compounds, such as, 3H, 14C, 85Kr, 131I, and 129I that can be harmful to human health and environment. Radioactive iodine, 129I, is particularly troublesome as it has a half-life of more than 15 million years and is prone to accumulate in human thyroid glands. Organic iodides are hazardous even at very low concentrations, and hence the capture of 129I is extremely important. Dynamic adsorption experiments were conducted to determine the efficiency of sodium mordenite, partially exchanged silver mordenite, and fully exchanged silver mordenite for the removal of methyl iodide present at parts per billion concentrations in a simulated off-gas stream. Kinetic analysis of the system was conducted incorporating the effects of diffusion and mass transfer. The possible reaction mechanism is postulated and the order of the reaction and the values of the rate constants were determined from the experimental data. Adsorbent characterization is performed to investigate the nature of the adsorbent before and after iodine loading. This paper will offer a comprehensive understanding of the methyl iodide behavior when in contact with the mordenites.

Combination of liquid-phase exfoliation and hydrothermal method has progressed in recent years mainly on production of 2D materials. In this study, graphene was successfully synthesized via combinatorial of liquid-phase exfoliation and hydrothermal method with the aid of various conductive surfactants perylene-3, 4, 9, 10-tetracarboxylate (PTCA), lithium perylene-3, 4, 9, 10-tetracarboxylate (LiPTCA) and sodium perylene-3, 4, 9, 10-tetracarboxylate (NaPTCA). The effect of the lithium ( Li+) and sodium ( Na+) cations toward the efficiency of the graphene exfoliation process and its electrical properties was thoroughly investigated. Based on the characterization techniques, it is revealed that NaPTCA is the ideal conductive surfactant to exfoliate graphene sheets. X-ray diffraction spectra verified that the Na+ cation certainly can enhance the exfoliation process by expanding the interlayer spacing. The lateral size of the graphene sheets with Na-PTCA surfactant was the smallest (4.17 μm) as observed from SEM micrograph. The maximum concentration of the graphene yield was achieved up to 0.151 mgmL− 1 in NaPTCA surfactant alongside with excellent electrical conductivity of 746.27 Sm− 1 and relevant specific capacitance of 129 Fg− 1.

In additive manufacturing, the flowability of feedstock particles determines the quality of the parts that are affected by different parameters, including the chemistry and morphology of the powders and particle size distribution. In this study, the microstructures and flowabilities of gas-atomized heat-resistant alloys for additive manufacturing applications are investigated. A KHR45A alloy powder with a composition of Fe-30Cr-40Mn-1.8Nb (wt.%) is fabricated using gas atomization process. The microstructure and effect of powder chemistry and morphology on the flow behavior are investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and revolution powder analysis. The results reveal the formation of spherical particles composed of single-phase FCC dendritic structures after gas atomization. SEM observations show variations in the microstructures of the powder particles with different size distributions. Elemental distribution maps, line scans, and high-resolution XPS results indicate the presence of a Si-rich oxide accompanied by Fe, Cr, and Nb metal oxides in the outer layer of the powders. The flowability behavior is found to be induced by the particle size distribution, which can be attributed to the interparticle interactions and friction of particles with different sizes.

Bacterial phytopathogen Pectobacterium causes soft rot disease in several vegetable crops globally, resulting in heavy agricultural losses at both the pre and postharvest stages. The present work was carried out to screen Kimchi cabbage genetic resources conserved at the National Agrobiodiversity Center, Rural Development Administration, Korea, for resistance against the soft rot pathogen Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum KACC 21701 over a period of three years (from 2020 to 2022). Infection of the phytopathogen was carried out at four-leaf stage and for each accession, twenty-five plants per germplasm were infected with KACC 21701. Kimchi cabbage cultivars Wangmatbaechu, Seoulbaechu, and CR Kiyoshi were used as control. Seven-days post-infection, the Disease Index (DI) values were manually recorded from zero to four, zero matched perfectly heathy plants and four completely dead plants. The 682 accessions of Kimchi cabbage exhibited varying degrees of disease resistance to KACC 21701 and thirty accessions, exhibiting a DI≤2, were considered for replication studies. During the replication studies, four landrace germplasms (IT102883, IT120036, IT120044, and IT120048) and one cultivar (IT187919) were confirmed to be moderately susceptible to KACC 21701. Results of the preliminary screening as well as replication studies were documented for the all the 682 germplasms. Addition of such information to the passport data of stored germplasms might serve as potential bio-resource for future breeders and researchers to develop resistant varieties or study the mechanisms involved in resistance of plants to such phytopathogen.